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FORT MYERS -- When the Red Sox face Boston College tonight, David Ortiz will start at first base. And during tomorrow's workout, Adrian Gonzalez will take fly balls in the outfield.It's all part of Bobby Valentine's plan to prepare the Red Sox for interleague play, which begins May 18-20 in Philadelphia.

Last season, former manager Terry Francona wrestled with the decision of whether to use Gonzalez (Herald photo by Matt Stone) in right field in order to start Ortiz at first base during interleague games in National League ballparks. The chief concern was that both players would be out of position, increasing their risk of injury. Valentine is taking measures in spring training to diminish that risk.

"Right now, (Ortiz) is conditioned to do it," Valentine said of Big Papi playing first base. "If, in fact, during the interleague play, it's determined that he should play in the field, I think he should have these reps on his resume so that he feels that he's done it before this year and that he can do it again. This isn't just to get his at-bats. This is because I've talked with him and Adrian and there might be a situation during the year where he's going to be a first baseman."

A few other pregame notes:

GETTING IT RIGHT: At first glance, it seems logical for Cody Ross and Ryan Sweeney to split time in right field. Ross, a right-handed hitter, typically has success against left-handed pitchers; lefty-swinging Sweeney always has fared well against righties. But Valentine never has been a slave to strict platoons. "When the game starts that might be exactly the way it works, so they understand where they are," Valentine said. "But as the game progresses, when I say strict platoons, if it's the fifth inning and we're up 5-0 and they bring in a left-hander I expect Sweeney to hit. When they bring in a right-hander, I expect Ross to hit." Valentine is particularly intrigued by Sweeney, a strapping 27-year-old who has shown only minimal power throughout his career with the White Sox and A's. "Looking at where he's been, he should be on the verge," Valentine said. "Watching him, I don't think he knows himself as well as he should, especially as a hitter. It seems like (defensively) he has a very good sense of who he is. I'm not sure he has a great sense of who he is at the plate yet."

GETTING IGGY WITH IT: Shortstop prospect Jose Iglesias will be leading off against Northeastern. He drew a walk in Thursday's B-game against the Twins, and Valentine is eager to see more of him. But reading between the lines, it sounds like the manager agrees with the front office's philosophy that Iglesias needs more time in Triple A to work on his offense. "For my money, if he's a good baseball player at the major-league level, his offensive resume has to read more than plate discipline," Valentine said. "He has to be able to bunt for base hits in game situations. Man on second and no outs, he better be able to bunt for a base hit and get them over, or squeeze if necessary if it's a big run and I don't want to take his defense out of the game or hit-and-run in a situation where I need runners advanced and I don't want to just sacrifice a play. I think that his offense needs to be fine-tuned and that if he learns to start his swing a little sooner so that he’s not jumping at the ball, his discipline will be fine. I think, but we'll see. He has pretty good skills. I'm surprised at his skills."

SOMETHING COOKING: Right-hander Aaron Cook threw 30 pitches in live batting practice. Cook, slightly behind the other pitchers because he's recovering from a shoulder problem last year, is slated to throw live batting practice again Tuesday before being ready to pitch in games. "I don't even know how to put into words how much better I feel this year," Cook said. "Last year, I couldn't even get my wallet out of my back pocket. The way I feel right now, my arm hasn't felt this good in probably five or six years."